That is, at least, the view from Europe, and when it comes to the Geopolitics World Cup that view matters not one jot. Simply put, the European mind (save for Carlo Ancelotti, of course) cannot comprehend how different the standpoint is in Brazil<\/a>, where Neymar remains a sort of demi-deity \u2013 seemingly the last bastion of jogo bonito and the essence of the Selecao; both a symbol of its glorious past and its recent struggle. No Brazil team has ever gone longer than the current 24-year World Cup drought. After decades of collective suffering \u2013 Neymar and Brazil are in desperate need of redemption and glory. In a deeply Catholic country, those themes are overwhelmingly seductive.<\/p>\n One only needs to watch the videos of people reacting to Neymar\u2019s inclusion in Ancelotti\u2019s Brazil squad<\/a> to get a sense of it. Grown men were reduced to hot salty tears<\/a> of joy (and fits of destruction<\/a>), there were parties in the streets<\/a> and schoolchildren \u2013 so young that they were not even born when Neymar was in his Barcelona pomp \u2013 chanted wildly in celebration<\/a>, apparently hard-wired in their devotion. \u201cNeymar will be an important player for us at the World Cup,\u201d soothed Ancelotti. \u201cWe realised that in this last period he had continuity and was in good physical condition.\u201d Not to mention 11 goals and four assists in his last 18 matches for a relegation-threatened Santos.<\/p>\n Neymar\u2019s domestic form and a complete lack of it for Jo\u00e3o Pedro in a Brazil shirt \u2013 no goals or assists in eight appearances to date \u2013 is probably lost on many commentators and Social Media Disgrace influencers complaining on Tuesday at Ancelotti\u2019s omission of the Chelsea forward. And while that was a surprise, it\u2019s probably best not to question Ancelotti, one of the greatest managers of all time with five Bigger Cups to his name. You\u2019re better off with Ancelotti than without him and if you don\u2019t believe that, just have a look at how Real Madrid are doing at the moment.<\/p>\n LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE<\/p>\n Join Rob Smyth at 8pm (BST) for red-hot updates on Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester City, while Simon Burnton will be on hand at the same time for Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham.\u200a\u200a<\/p>\n QUOTE OF THE DAY<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea [about] that. They don\u2019t have to do anything, honestly. The important thing in our lives is when you look back and say, \u2018wow, you can look with a big smile and that is good\u2019. And Bernardo [Silva] can feel that and John [Stones] can feel that. We spoke about that in last days and about [what] we lived. So when you are an old grandfather and you look back and you can laugh for the memories\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola reckons he doesn\u2019t need the new North Stand naming after him when he leaves Manchester City at the end of the season<\/a> because memories of the good times \u2013 and he\u2019s had a few<\/a> \u2013 are more than enough.<\/p>\n The good times, earlier. Photograph: Molly Darlington\/Reuters<\/p>\n double quotation markIf Tottenham Hotspur get relegated (which is every Arsenal fan\u2019s fantasy), when do we achieve next season\u2019s St Totteringham\u2019s Day? Do we mark it on the final day of this season or do we carry over the occasion to the opening day of the next one?\u201d \u2013 Ronald Kondowe.<\/p>\n double quotation markGiven that Burnley have bounced between the bottom of the Premier League and the top of the Championship a couple of times in recent memory, is it time to replace their parachute payment with a yo-yo payment?\u201d \u2013 Peter Oh.<\/p>\n double quotation markSurely we have to doff our collective caps to the once \u2018Special One\u2019, then \u2018Happy One\u2019, then \u2018Desperate for a Job One\u2019 and, somewhat inevitably, the \u2018Lucky that Real Madrid are Even More Desperate Than He is One<\/a>\u2019. His Benfica have just gone through the whole league season unbeaten. That surely puts them up there with Arsenal\u2019s so-called \u2018Invincibles\u2019, who also went through the season unbeaten (if you ignore them losing once in the FA Cup, twice to Middlesbrough in the Milk Cup and three times in the Big Cup that is). That\u2019s the way this works, right? Hold on a minute. Benfica finished where<\/a>?\u201d \u2013 Noble Francis.<\/p>\n If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com<\/a>. Today\u2019s prizeless letter o\u2019 the day winner is \u2026 Noble Francis. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here<\/a>.\u200a<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED LISTENING<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Football Weekly is heading for your ears, right here<\/a>, with a look back at the WSL season that was.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED LOOKING<\/p>\n It\u2019s our man \u200aDavid Squires on \u2026 Celtic crushing Hearts\u2019 hopes<\/a> of a Scottish fairytale.<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/536.jpg\")
Oof. Illustration: David Squires\/The Guardian